A 16-year-old Alabaster teen was killed and three other people were injured in a two-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon in Shelby County, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and the Shelby County Coroner’s Office.
The victim was identified as William James Clowdus, also known as James Clowdus, of Alabaster. Authorities said the crash happened at approximately 2:10 p.m. on Alabama 119 near the 26-mile marker, about two miles south of Hoover.
According to ALEA, Clowdus was driving a 2013 Honda Civic when it collided with a Lexus RX SUV driven by 64-year-old Michael C. Rice of Birmingham. After the initial impact, the Civic left the roadway and crashed into a fence and a greenhouse.
Investigators said Clowdus was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision. He was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
A 14-year-old passenger riding in the Civic was also injured in the crash and transported to a local hospital for treatment. Authorities have not released the passenger’s condition.
The driver of the Lexus, Michael Rice, and his passenger, 67-year-old Dawn M. Rice, were also injured. Both were taken to UAB Hospital for treatment following the crash.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after the wreck was reported, and traffic in the area was affected for several hours while authorities investigated and cleared the roadway.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said its Highway Patrol Division is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. No additional information has been released regarding possible contributing factors or whether charges are expected.
The fatal crash remains under investigation.
